Harrisburg Semester Seminar (PUBPL) 490

From a welcoming reception in the Capitol Rotunda to a power lunch with government officials and lobbyists, the Harrisburg Semester Seminar blends academics with a hands-on approach to learning about policy making in our state capital. The course includes a series of guest speakers--legislators, top executive officials, lobbyists, issue advocates, and experts in their fields—as well as traditional class readings and discussion.

All students enrolled in the Harrisburg Semester program are required to register for PUBPL490. The class meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at a downtown location convenient to most students’ internship sites. The class is taught by Michael Cassidy, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Office of the Democratic Caucus Chairman in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Cassidy is a former legislator whose background includes over 30 years of experience in speech writing, issue research, media relations, campaign management, and legislative strategy. A graduate of Penn State University with a B.A. in Political Science and Penn State Harrisburg with a M.A. in American Studies, he also is the Managing Editor of COMMONWEALTH: a Journal of Political Science published by the Pennsylvania Political Science Association (PPSA) and the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL).

For more information about the course, see the attached syllabus (PDF) from summer 2009 and the list of guest speakers (PDF). Note, however, that the summer 2010 course will not be identical to the 2009 version; we make adjustments and hopefully improvements each year. The attachments should, however, provide you with an understanding of the general format and goals of the PUBPL 490 seminar.